1 Storyline for every game on Milwaukee Bucks' NBA Cup schedule
By Dalton Sell
Miami Heat - Damian Lillard facing the team that almost got him
There's an argument to be made that the Miami Heat have been Milwaukee's most prominent rival over the last few seasons, and last year's Damian Lillard transaction added some layers to that.
For much of the 2023 offseason, it felt inevitable that the Miami Heat were in the driver's seat to trade for Damian Lillard. However, after months of pursuit and no deal, the Milwaukee Bucks swooped in out of nowhere and acquired the point guard from the Portland Trail Blazers days before camp opened, shocking the entire NBA landscape, but particularly the Heat.
In addition to the Lillard swiping, the Bucks and Heat have had plenty of on-court battles, especially in the NBA Playoffs. Miami won in 2020, while Milwaukee won in 2021, followed by a first-round upset by the Heat, who overthrew the top-seeded Bucks in 2023. Whether it ends in pain or glory, the games between these two are always objectively must-see.
Lillard being in Milwaukee will add some intensity to this matchup, and the media will certainly play up that aspect of it. It won't be a playoff game, but this NBA Cup matchup will certainly have a playoff-like atmosphere. Perhaps this game could be a preview if the Milwaukee Bucks and Miami Heat meet up down the line for another playoff series.
Get your popcorn on November 26.